Unfortunately, it looks like I must sell my 86 Mark VII LSC. I picked up another car, and just don’t have the space to keep the 86 LSC to bring it back to 100% in my spare time. But I am also going to sell with it lots of spares and hard to find items that I have collected over the years since I was planning to fully restore the car someday. Even though I’m going to get rid of the Mark VII, I am still keeping my 98 Mark VIII LSC that has only 71K mi on it.
I’ve had the 86 Mark VII LSC since 1994 when it had only 64K mi. Now 18 years later, it’s up to about 300K mi. on the odo still on the original engine and trans. It’s probably more like 290K mi. since I run a little shorter tire and the speedo runs a little fast, if it matters much. The car still runs strong, oil changed every 3K mi and full synthetic trans fluid every 25K mi. It leaks a little oil, more than it might burn any, maybe 1 qt every 3K mi. Most of it drips from the oil level sensor on the side of the oil pan I think. It was my daily driver, so just about everything works and I would have no problem getting in it and driving across the country. It’s has had all the suspension rubber changed to full polyurethane bushings, and it has Kuhmo Ecsta ASX 245/50VR16s with lots of life left on 16x7 ARE 205 rims. It has high pressure gas shocks and struts. Recently I’ve put in a new alternator, voltage regulator, air pump and serpentine belt. It has a fairly new battery, and recent coolant flush with Dexcool and new 160 thermostat. AC system was recently recharged with real R12 Freon, it was totally replaced with new or NOS parts except for the evaporator about 6 years ago. The ABS accumulator and pressure switches were also replaced in the past. The rear axle has been rebuilt, Brembo rotors with ceramic pads, chrome air intake tube with K&N conical filter. It has a slightly larger radiator with 160 thermostat, the car runs nice and cool, which may also be why it still runs so well after all these years. In the past it’s had the power steering pump, steering rack, water pump, fuel pump, u-joints and air bags replaced. No leaks in the air bags now, I find you can easily get 100K mi out of them, but it’s an easy to fix wear item. I’ve never had any problems with the air pump, solenoids or water in the system.
The car has been clear coat/base coat repainted in the past about 6 years ago in it’s original black color. That is one of the issues now. It was hit in the front clip and cracked the fiberglass and grill, so those were replaced. The body shop that did the work screwed up and they used too much bondo on the body seam on the C-pillars. So that has split the paint and the C-pillars will need to be stripped and properly prepped and repainted. PPG says it is a prep issue and not a paint warranty issue, but it should be easy to fix just the C-pillars and blend it to the roof and side body line, so no need to repaint the whole car. The other issue is the trunk leaks in heavy rain. There are a few spots where water will drip in below the rear window in the valley around the trunk. It was resealed when they repainted the car, but it probably needs to be really stripped and possibly metal replaced to fix it properly.
Inside, the driver’s left side bolster on the leather is worn from entry and exit on the big bump that sticks out, but a common issue. The leather on the back seat at the top has dried some and shrunk a little splitting the threads at the seams. The interior is dark blue, and has cloth center inserts on the seats, something I have found to be rare. The replacement leather kits just come with perforated leather center inserts. But I spoke with them in the past, and they will sew the kit for you with the cloth to match the original if you want as long as you provide the cloth, which is still available easily. I prefer the cloth centers and find them more comfortable than the perforated leather myself. The windows are tinted, and the factory radio has been replaced with a touch screen unit that also plays DVDs, MP3s and has Bluetooth.
Since I was planning to restore the car fully someday, I do have lots of spare and original parts that will also go with the car. I’ll try to list some of what I can remember here now not having pulled it all out yet to go with the car. I have the original rims and center caps, and a full set of mint rear taillights. I have the original front lower plastic side bumper moldings and plastic grill. I have new Champion Iridium plugs, Accel cap, rotor and coil that I did not get around to putting in yet with recent tune-up plans I had (i has Accel 8.8 wires on it). I have spare interior parts, trunk motor assembly, original air box, light switches, and original cassette radio. I have a full set of spare outer window lower metal trim and new weatherstrip rubber to put on it, the ones on the car now have gotten pretty dry. I have a full set of factory manuals to go with the car too. New dryer for the air suspension system, factory dimming inside rearview mirror that I never installed. There are all kinds of parts that I need to dig out and will include. I have a log of all the stuff I’ve done over the years by date and mileage that will be included.
I really would like to see the car go to someone who will appreciate it and keep it running. I would rather not see it driven into the ground or parted out as these in good shape are getting harder to find not beat to death already. I’d like to sell it as a package with all the parts for $3500, and you could probably easily get over $1000 on the parts alone. If you’re interested, or know someone who is, please get in touch. I can take pics to send by e-mail and we can talk on the phone.
Thanks!
Bill
I’ve had the 86 Mark VII LSC since 1994 when it had only 64K mi. Now 18 years later, it’s up to about 300K mi. on the odo still on the original engine and trans. It’s probably more like 290K mi. since I run a little shorter tire and the speedo runs a little fast, if it matters much. The car still runs strong, oil changed every 3K mi and full synthetic trans fluid every 25K mi. It leaks a little oil, more than it might burn any, maybe 1 qt every 3K mi. Most of it drips from the oil level sensor on the side of the oil pan I think. It was my daily driver, so just about everything works and I would have no problem getting in it and driving across the country. It’s has had all the suspension rubber changed to full polyurethane bushings, and it has Kuhmo Ecsta ASX 245/50VR16s with lots of life left on 16x7 ARE 205 rims. It has high pressure gas shocks and struts. Recently I’ve put in a new alternator, voltage regulator, air pump and serpentine belt. It has a fairly new battery, and recent coolant flush with Dexcool and new 160 thermostat. AC system was recently recharged with real R12 Freon, it was totally replaced with new or NOS parts except for the evaporator about 6 years ago. The ABS accumulator and pressure switches were also replaced in the past. The rear axle has been rebuilt, Brembo rotors with ceramic pads, chrome air intake tube with K&N conical filter. It has a slightly larger radiator with 160 thermostat, the car runs nice and cool, which may also be why it still runs so well after all these years. In the past it’s had the power steering pump, steering rack, water pump, fuel pump, u-joints and air bags replaced. No leaks in the air bags now, I find you can easily get 100K mi out of them, but it’s an easy to fix wear item. I’ve never had any problems with the air pump, solenoids or water in the system.
The car has been clear coat/base coat repainted in the past about 6 years ago in it’s original black color. That is one of the issues now. It was hit in the front clip and cracked the fiberglass and grill, so those were replaced. The body shop that did the work screwed up and they used too much bondo on the body seam on the C-pillars. So that has split the paint and the C-pillars will need to be stripped and properly prepped and repainted. PPG says it is a prep issue and not a paint warranty issue, but it should be easy to fix just the C-pillars and blend it to the roof and side body line, so no need to repaint the whole car. The other issue is the trunk leaks in heavy rain. There are a few spots where water will drip in below the rear window in the valley around the trunk. It was resealed when they repainted the car, but it probably needs to be really stripped and possibly metal replaced to fix it properly.
Inside, the driver’s left side bolster on the leather is worn from entry and exit on the big bump that sticks out, but a common issue. The leather on the back seat at the top has dried some and shrunk a little splitting the threads at the seams. The interior is dark blue, and has cloth center inserts on the seats, something I have found to be rare. The replacement leather kits just come with perforated leather center inserts. But I spoke with them in the past, and they will sew the kit for you with the cloth to match the original if you want as long as you provide the cloth, which is still available easily. I prefer the cloth centers and find them more comfortable than the perforated leather myself. The windows are tinted, and the factory radio has been replaced with a touch screen unit that also plays DVDs, MP3s and has Bluetooth.
Since I was planning to restore the car fully someday, I do have lots of spare and original parts that will also go with the car. I’ll try to list some of what I can remember here now not having pulled it all out yet to go with the car. I have the original rims and center caps, and a full set of mint rear taillights. I have the original front lower plastic side bumper moldings and plastic grill. I have new Champion Iridium plugs, Accel cap, rotor and coil that I did not get around to putting in yet with recent tune-up plans I had (i has Accel 8.8 wires on it). I have spare interior parts, trunk motor assembly, original air box, light switches, and original cassette radio. I have a full set of spare outer window lower metal trim and new weatherstrip rubber to put on it, the ones on the car now have gotten pretty dry. I have a full set of factory manuals to go with the car too. New dryer for the air suspension system, factory dimming inside rearview mirror that I never installed. There are all kinds of parts that I need to dig out and will include. I have a log of all the stuff I’ve done over the years by date and mileage that will be included.
I really would like to see the car go to someone who will appreciate it and keep it running. I would rather not see it driven into the ground or parted out as these in good shape are getting harder to find not beat to death already. I’d like to sell it as a package with all the parts for $3500, and you could probably easily get over $1000 on the parts alone. If you’re interested, or know someone who is, please get in touch. I can take pics to send by e-mail and we can talk on the phone.
Thanks!
Bill